Coast leaders meet to plan region’s future

More than 20 elected leaders from the Coast region yesterday gathered at a private location in Nyali, Mombasa, amid the growing clamour for a local political party.

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (pictured) and his Kilifi counterpart Amason Kingi led the leaders in the closed-door forum, which was skipped by Deputy President William Ruto’s allies.

Joho has announced plans to seek the presidency through ODM while Kingi has declared intention to unveil a political party for Coast by June.

But Ruto’s allies dismissed the meeting, saying it had failed the test of uniting the residents.

Yesterday’s meeting brought together elected leaders who included members of the National Assembly and senators who trooped in from early morning. They said they were responding to an invitation by Kingi to attend the forum that continued way into the afternoon.

Ganze MP Teddy Mwambire said the media was not invited as they were laying the ground for further meetings and did not want to pre-empt the plans.

Mbwambire explained that this was the first meeting, adding that another would follow shortly and would bring on board more leaders from the region.

Matuga MP Kassim Tandza, who attended the meeting, said it would be pointless to come up with a Coast-based party but fail to get its clear leader who would steer it.

He also discounted claims that the forum was meant for ODM leaders alone, saying he was invited by Governor Kingi as a Coast MP.

“The Coast region has seven political parties to its credit and it will be pointless to have another party or even a coalition of parties from this place without a distinguished leader to take us forward. This is where the problem is, and it has to be fixed,” argued the Amani National Congress legislator.

Tandaza said political parties formed upcountry have made impact in the county because they are headed by strong leaders. He said the Coast region should borrow a leaf from them.

Lamu County MP Ruweida Mohamed said she was for the idea of forming a political party for the Coast, but would be keen to know what stakes her people will have when such an entity negotiated at the national table.

The Jubilee legislator said she would be interested to know from the initial consultations whether the proposed Coast party would be independent or be controlled by certain individuals.

“I was invited by Kingi. I cannot decline an invitation by him or Governor Joho because I respect them as our senior leaders from this region. I am ready to listen,” she said.

Legislators allied to Ruto who were conspicuously absent included Benjamin Tayari of Kinango, Mohamed Ali (Nyali), Aisha Jumwa (Malindi), Owen Baya (Kilifi North), Feisal Bader (Msambweni), Athman Shariff (Lamu East), and Naomi Shaban (Taveta). Others were Taita Taveta County MP Lydia Haika, her Tana River counterpart Rehema Hassan, and Kaloleni’s Paul Katana. Speaking elsewhere, Nyali MP Ali said the meeting was attended by leaders allied to only one faction and hence would not achieve unity of the region.